The 9 Best SPF-Spiked Eye Creams to Pamper Your Delicate Undereye Area

Shield the thin and sensitivity-prone skin against UV rays with these dermatologist-recommended, SPF-laced creams, moisturizers, and skin tints.

Eye care is essential year-round, as “the skin around the eyes is among the most sensitive on the body,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic and clinical research department of dermatology at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. However, sun protection is not often the top priority, so that’s where the best eye creams with SPF come into play. This delicate area of skin “often goes unprotected from the sun because people are not applying sunscreen as close to the eyes as they should,” Dr. Zeichner notes.

Delicate undereye skin is more prone to signs of aging such as sun damage, burning, fine lines, and wrinkles than other parts of the skin, which is why this area of the face requires special care. Similar to the way we swap out a daytime moisturizer with SPF for a richer night cream before bed, it’s beneficial to do the same with two different eye creams. Look for one to protect skin during the day and another to soothe and replenish at night.

Choosing the right eye cream with SPF can be tricky, particularly if you have sensitive skin. “Eyelid skin is thinner than the surrounding facial skin, so it can be more prone to sensitivity and irritation than the skin on the rest of the body,” says Rhode Island-based board-certified dermatologist, Tiffany Jow Libby, MD. “As a Mohs surgeon, I see many patients come in with skin cancer on the eyelids and around the eyes, so if you have sensitive skin, stick with mineral SPFs in this area.” Dr. Libby says that sunglasses and hats are also great options for UV protection around the eyes.

If you’re wondering whether or not you need a separate broad-spectrum sunscreen for your eye area, New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Morgan Rabach, MD, says that most sunscreens are made for the entire face, including around the eye. She notes that if you have especially sensitive skin and have experienced any bit of a burning sensation around the eye when using a traditional face SPF, it’s best to stick with a formula made especially for the eye area — as those tend to have gentler ingredients.

Even with this intel, picking a safe and effective eye cream with SPF requires a bit more attention to detail. If you’re unsure, or if you have really sensitive skin, check in with your board-certified dermatologist before experimenting.

Used in tandem with your daily sunscreen, these eye creams with SPF help protect the delicate skin around your eyes from sun damage, as well as the crow’s feet and dark spots it can cause. We sought out recommendations from several board-certified dermatologists to help you decipher the best eye cream for your skin type and needs, so happy shopping.

Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50

SkinCeuticals’s Physical Eye UV Defense is a resounding favorite among Dr. Rabach, Dr. Zeichner, and Dr. Libby. This airy, mineral-based sunscreen has “physical blockers titanium and zinc, as well as ceramides, which help seal and moisturize the delicate skin under the eye,” says Dr. Rachach. This tinted formula consists of translucent color spheres to help brighten the appearance of dark circles and discoloration around the eyes, as well as ceramides to strengthen your barrier.

Best Tinted Eye Cream: Supergoop Bright-Eyed 100% Mineral Eye Cream SPF 40

Dr. Rabach incorporates Supergoop’s Bright-Eyed 100% Mineral Eye Cream SPF 40 into her daily routine. “It contains only mineral sunscreen, which is much gentler and less irritating on thin eye skin, and it also contains caffeine, so it helps reduce dark undereye circles,” she notes. While a full face of some mineral sunscreens tends to leave a white cast on darker skin tones, it can create a brightening effect when used on the eye area. Caffeine and pomegranate reduce the appearance of dark circles while green tea and South African resurrection plant provide long-term moisturization.

Best Dark Circle Coverage: Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35

“The eyelid skin is amongst the thinnest on the body, and it is important to protect it as it may be more susceptible to earlier signs of photodamage and premature aging,” Dr. Libby explains. Another one of her picks is the Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35, which is formulated specifically for delicate eye skin. The treatment protects the undereye area from both UVA/and UVB damage as well as environmental stressors with mineral blockers like zinc oxide. Plus, the cream comes in four different peachy shades, offering color-correcting coverage for dark circles.

Allure Best of Beauty Winner: EltaMD UV Stick Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+

EltaMD’s UV Stick Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+ picked up a 2022 Allure Best of Beauty Award for its easy, on-the-go application (and reapplication). This zinc-oxide, fragrance-free formula works well with all skin types and all ages and is sweat- and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes — making it a perfect choice for active lifestyles and/or beach days. Plus, cocoa butter, shea butter, bisabolol, and vitamin E do wonders soothing the delicate skin.

Two-in-One Package: Coola Day SPF 30 + Night Eye Cream Duo

Coola eliminates the guesswork and need for an extra skin-care step with its Day SPF + Night Eye Cream Duo. “I like the concept of having two different eye creams packaged together that meet specific needs for AM versus PM,” says Dr. Libby. “The vitamin C and SPF in the AM help protect against free radicals and UV, while the night cream has resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that also helps reduce inflammation.”

Prebiotic-Filled Formula: RéVive Sensitif Eye Cream SPF 30 PA +++

RéVive Sensitif Eye Cream SPF 30 PA +++ sets you up for success in terms of shielding your skin from UVA and UVB rays. This luxurious cream, which is dispensed via a cooling metal applicator, only includes the good stuff. Shea butter and avocado intensely moisturize the eye area; vitamin E and ginger root protect against free radicals and blue light damage; caffeine and prebiotics brighten and reduce sensitivity; and niacinamide helps soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Best for No-Makeup Makeup Days: PCA Skin Sheer Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 45

Dr. Zeichner previously recommended PCA Skin’s Sheer Tint Eye SPF 30, which has since been reformulated to the Sheer Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 45. This lightweight, mineral-based cream is water-resistant, slightly tinted for sheer coverage (so it can be worn alone or underneath makeup), and features a powerful antioxidant by the name of coenzyme Q10 to fend off free-radical damage. Don’t just take it from us: Sheer Tint even has the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation.

Best Brightening Eye Cream: Dermadoctor DD Eye Dermatologically Defining Eye Radiance Cream SPF 30

A combination of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in the Dermadoctor DD Eye Dermatologically Defining Eye Radiance Cream SPF 30 protects your skin against sun damage. Coconut oil and glycerin moisturize the delicate skin, while caffeine, light-infused pigments, and mica minimize and brighten the look of dark circles.

Best for All Skin Types & Ages: CeraVe Sunscreen Stick SPF 50

CeraVe’s Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 is an all-over face sunscreen but the inexpensive stick format makes for convenient application and re-touching on the eye area throughout the day. “Most sunscreens are made for the entire face, including around the eye, so you can definitely use them there,” says Dr. Rabach. Like all CeraVe products, this sensitive-skin-friendly formula is fragrance-free and contains three ceramides (1, 3, and 6-II) to strengthen your moisture barrier.

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.